Bearsharktopus swim team attends first meet of fall season

ST. LOUIS (Heartland Newsfeed) — The Bearsharktopus Aquatic Swim Team (BASC), a swim team comprised of students based in Montgomery and Macoupin counties, traveled to Lindbergh High School in St. Louis this past weekend for their first meet of the Short Course Yards season, which was met with great success.

Boys Results:

Spencer Hoehl, 14, of Litchfield, earned the high point award for 14 year old boys with his remarkable swims in the 100 fly (1:07.91-B), 100 back (1:07.16-BB), 100 breast (1:19.34-B), 200 back (2:30.40-B), 200 breast (2:52.33-B), 200 free (2:14.17-B), 200 IM (2:27.71-BB), and 200 fly (2:45.09).

Shaw Riggs, 15, of Butler, also swam to his first regional cut of the season with his 200 back swim (2:13.55-BB).  Shaw also swam the 100 fly (1:02.89-BB), 200 free (1:59.56-A), 400 IM (5:04.40-BB), 200 IM (2:17.05-BB), 100 back (1:02.76-BB), 100 breast (1:22.56), and 500 free (5:27.15-BB).

Allen Schneider, 13, of Litchfield, also swam to new times in the 100 fly (1:13.27-B), 200 back (2:45.36), 200 free (2:21.20-B), 100 breast (1:28.24), and 500 free (6:37.81-B ).

Dawsen Loafman, 14, of Nokomis, earned new times in all his events this weekend as well.  He swam the 100 fly (1:21.79), 200 back (2:51.45), 200 breast (3:18.12), 200 free (2:41.14), 200 IM (2:48.63), 100 back (1:17.50), 100 breast (1:26.88), and 500 free (6:47.66).

Garrett Comerford, 11, of Carlinville, swam Saturday to new best times in the 50 fly (39.99), 100 back (1:32.94), and 50 breast (55.30).

Girls Results:

Hope Speiser, 10, of Witt, earned the team’s first regional qualifying cut of the season Friday night with her 200 free swim (2:40.21-BB) and earned another regional qualifying cut Saturday with her 100 IM swim (1:21.38-BB).  Hope also swam the 200 free (2:40.21), 200 IM (3:06.29-BB), 50 fly (41.58-BB), 100 back (1:28.76-BB), 50 back (41.33-BB), 100 breast (1:44.63-BB), and 100 free (1:16.65-BB).

Annabelle Wright, 11, of Hillsboro, attended the three day event and swam new best times in all eight of her events including the 500 free (6:57.80-BB), 200 IM (3:06.65), 50 fly (40.90), 100 back (1:23.12-B), 50 breast (51.86), 50 back (38.54-B), 100 breast (1:51.26), and 200 free (2:38.73-B).

Sydney Hoehl, 16, of Litchfield, swam to new best times in all six of her events over the weekend.  She swam the 100 fly (1:13.21-B), 200 breast (3:03.23-B), 200 free (2:23.32-B), 400 IM (5:59.22), 200 IM (2:39.76-B), 100 back (1:14.44-B), 100 breast (1:23.55-B), and 500 free (6:30.92-B).

Luci VanGiesen, 8, of Hillsboro, showed how hard she has been working by earning new best times in the 50 breast (1:01.44), 100 IM (1:56.28), 50 back (50.14), and 100 free (1:41.07).

Chloe Martincic, 11, of Hillsboro, swam Sunday to new best times in the 50 back (48.24), 100 breast (1:58.77), and 200 free (3:22.55).

The swim team is off to a great start to their season and will travel to Central Park Pool in Peoria in two weeks for their next meet. Questions about joining or supporting the team can contact parent liasons Kendra Wright at [email protected] or at (217) 556-6890 or Jodi Speiser at [email protected] or at (217) 556-8853.

Jake Leonard

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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.

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